Hair comb with adjustably tapered teeth

ABSTRACT

A comb having combination teeth in which two sets of teeth are congruently pivoted adjacent their free ends to swing angularly about said pivot to adjustably vary the taper of said combination teeth, and a bar slidably mounted intermediate said sets of teeth for varying the effective lengths of said teeth directly with said adjustable taper.

O Umted States Patent 51 3,638,665 Staffas, Sr. 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [54] HAIR COMB WITH ADJUSTABLY 1,662,373 3/1928 Widdows ..l32/45 R X TAPERED TEETH Primary ExaminerRussell R. Kinsey [72] lnventor: Broussard Stattas, Sr., 2100 St. Bernard Assistant Examinerfiy Eskovitz Ave., New Orleans, La. 701 19 Attorney james 5 Lake, [22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT 211 App]. No; 127,975

A comb having combination teeth In which two sets of teeth are congruently pivoted adjacent their free ends to swing an- [52] US. Cl. ..132/129, 132/11, 132/45 A gularly about said pivot to adjustably vary the taper of said [51] Int. Cl. ..A4Sd 24/36 ombination teeth, and a bar slidably mounted intermediate Field of Search 2/ 42, l 1, 45 A, 45 R said sets of teeth for varying the effective lengths of said teeth directly with said adjustable taper. [56] References Cited 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,823 12/1918 Stahle ..l32/l29 Sissasss PATENTED FEB I I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. Bye/[5S massard r.

BY A f1 HAIR COMB WITH ADJUSTABLY TAPERED TEETH The invention relates to a comb for cutting hair and more particularly to a comb having tapered teeth that can be adjustably varied in taper and effective length.

Combs with tapered teeth are used as a gauge to cut hair to certain lengths. Heretofore, a plurality of combs, each with a different taper for a different length were required.

It is an object of the invention to provide a comb with teeth, the taper of which can be varied in accordance with the length to which the hair is to be cut, and theeffective length of said teeth can be varied with the taper.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the following description and claims, and the drawings in which:

FIG. I is an isometric view of the invention showing position of combination teeth pivoted to full taper position,

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the pivoted side of the invention in position of least taper,

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 from another point of view,

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the pivoting set of teeth,

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the other set of teeth with sliding bar,

FIG. 6 is an isometric view ofthe sliding bar,

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a section taken along section line 66 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the reverse side of matter shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the invention comprises a comb 10 having a handle I2 and a combination set of teeth 14. The combination set of teeth comprises a first set 16 that is pivoted to a second set 18 that is integral with the handle 12. The sets of teeth are pivoted near the free ends of the teeth and are arranged congruently to pivot to increase and decrease the taper of combination 14. An arm 20, integral with the first set of teeth 16, is adjustably engaged by a catch 22 fixed to the handle I2 and secures the relative positions of the respective sets for the desired combination taper.

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, the teeth 24 are shorter than the teeth 26 of the first and second sets respectively. Teeth 24 terminate at their free ends in rounded projections 28 respectively. Teeth 26 taper outwardly from pointed free ends 30 and are cut back adjacent said free ends to from first abutments 32. Holes 34 are defined in the first abutments 32 that are adapted to loosely receive projections 28. The first tooth 36 and the last tooth 38 ofthe first set 16 are different in designation and structure from each other and the teeth 24. Both terminate in annular projections 40 having the same longitudinal axis, and last tooth 38 is integal with the arm that extends normal thereto but longitudinally offset therefrom. The normal element 42 of the arm 20 defines three holes in arcuate relation for registering with the catch 22.

The first tooth 44 and the last tooth 46 of the second set 18 are also different in designation and structure from the other teeth 30. They are wider and have spaced-apart side flanges 48 that are tapered outwardly similar to the taper of teeth 30, the flanges 48 defining holes 50 having centers on the same longitudinal axis. The first tooth 36 and the last tooth 38 ofthe first set of teeth 16 are adapted to respectively abut the spaced-apart flanges 48 of the first tooth 44 and the last tooth 46 of the second set of teeth I8, and with the annular projections 40 extending between said flanges for the annular holes to register with the flange holes 50. Pins 52 and 54 (see FIG. 2) secure the two sets of teeth pivotally together in congruent relationship, since the depth of the abutments 32 are the same as the thickness of the teeth of the first set 16 and tooth alignment is maintained by the cooperation of the projections 28 and holes 34 in addition to the pivotal attachment. The arm 20 projects through a hole 56 defined in the handle 12. The catch 22 comprises a housing 58 which is secured to the handle adjacent the hole 56. A finger-operated sliding element 59 is operatively mounted in the housing and has a projection (not shown) for engaging in any one of the arcuately arranged holes in the normal element 42 of the arm 20. A spring (not shown) biases the sliding element in the direction of engagement.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 a bar 60 having end flanges 62 and 64 and male guide flanges 66, and female guide flanges 68 is slidably mounted between the two sets of teeth 16 and 18. First tooth 44 and last tooth 46 of second set 18 are recessed adjacent the closed end of the teeth to receive the end flanges 62 and 64. Teeth 30 are cut back to form second abutments 70 between the first abutments 32 and the closed end of the second set of teeth 18. The bar 60 is free to slide toward the free ends of the combination teeth 14 as far as the second abutments 70, guided by the spaced-apart guides 66 and 68 over and between portions of teeth 30 between the abutments to prevent jamming, the bar sliding to its limit downward toward the teeth when the taper is least to reduce the effective length of the teeth of the combination. The bar is made of magnetic material or has magnetic inserts to cooperate with magnetic inserts 72 mounted adjacent the closed ends of teeth 30. When the first set of teeth 16 is pivoted to the position of greatest taper, a slight upward flip of the comb cause the bar 60 to slide upward and held magnetically beyond the closed ends of the teeth 30 to increase the effective length of the teeth 30 to a maximum for use with the greatest taper.

To keep the hair from pushing the bar 60 back from its forward position, two projections 73 (FIG. 4) on the underside of the first set of teeth 16 register with notches 74 in the bar 60. When the bar 60 is in its upper position and the two sets of teeth are closed in the position of least taper of the teeth, the projections extend into holes 76 to allow full closure of the sets of teethv However in use, when the two sets of teeth are closed the bar 60 is held in its lower or forward position as just explained.

What is claimed is:

I. A hair comb with teeth adjustable in taper and length for cutting hair selected lengths comprising: a first comb set of teeth having closed and free ends; a second comb set of teeth having closed and free ends, said second comb set of teeth being similar in number, spacing and width to the teeth of said first comb set, but defining first abutments facing oppositely from its said free ends on all said teeth; reciprocal pivotally engaging means integral with the free ends of said first comb set of teeth and communicable with said first abutments of said second comb set of teeth and adapted to cooperate to pivot the first comb set with respect to the second with the teeth of both sets congruent for changing the taper of the combination comb teeth; and means for locking the first and second comb sets of teeth in pivotal relationship at the desired taper of the combination comb.

2. A hair comb as described in claim 1 wherein means for varying the effective length of the combination comb teeth is slidably mounted between said first and second comb sets and intermediate the reciprocal pivotally engaging means and the closed ends of the respective comb sets of teeth. I

3. A hair comb as described in claim I wherein said reciprocal pivotally engaging means comprises: rounded projects extending longitudinally from the free ends of the first set of teeth between the first and last teeth of said first comb set of teeth, and projecting annular members on the respective free ends of said first and last teeth, and said first abutments of the second comb set of teeth defining holes adapted to receive said rounded projections on the congruent teeth of said first comb set; flanges integral with the first and last teeth of said second comb set of teeth and respectively adapted to receive said projecting annular members therebetween, said flanges defining holes adapted to register with the annular holes of said annular members, said holes being normal to the holes defined in said first abutments; and pivot pins adapted to engage in said flange and annular member holes for securing the first and second comb sets of teeth in operational relation.

4. A hair comb as described in claim 1 wherein said means for locking the first and second comb sets comprise: an arm integral with and normal to said first comb set of teeth; and a catch means adapted to releasably engage said arm mounted on said second comb set of teeth.

5. A hair comb as described in claim 2 wherein said means for varying the effective length of the combination comb teeth comprises: a bar having side flanges for slidably engaging the first and last teeth of said second comb set of teeth and guide means for engaging with and between teeth intermediate said first and last teeth; and a second abutment defined in said second comb set of teeth intermediate said first abutment and the closed ends of said teeth behind which said bar is slidable; means for holding said bar clear of said teeth mounted on the closed ends of said second comb set of teeth; and means for holding said bar in the forward position against the pull of hair.

6. A hair comb as described in claim 5 wherein said means for holding the bar clear of said teeth comprises: magnetic inserts in the bar and in the closed ends of said second comb set of teeth whereby a slight upward flip of the hair comb magnetically holds the bar clear of the teeth when the taper of the combination teeth is greatest.

7. A hair comb as described in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said bar in forward position comprises: inwardly extending projections positioned on the closed ends of said first set of teeth adjacent their respective ends; said bar defining notches adapted to register with said inwardly extending projects when said bar is in said forward position said bar also defining holes adapted to receive said projections when said bar is in alignment with the closed ends of the restive comb sets of teeth thereby allowing the closing of said comb sets of teeth to minimum taper. 

1. A hair comb with teeth adjustable in taper and length for cutting hair selected lengths comprising: a first comb set of teeth having closed and free ends; a second comb set of teeth having closed and free ends, said second comb set of teeth being similar in number, spacing and width to the teeth of said first comb set, but defining first abutments facing oppositely from its said free ends on all said teeth; reciprocal pivotally engaging means integral with the free ends of said first comb set of teeth and communicable with said first abutments of said second comb set of teeth and adapted to cooperate to pivot the first comb set with respect to the second with the teeth of both sets congruent for changing the taper of the combination comb teeth; and means for locking the first and second comb sets of teeth in pivotal relationship at the desired taper of the combination comb.
 2. A hair comb as described in claim 1 wherein means for varying the effective length of the combination comb teeth is slidably mounted between said first and second comb sets and intermediate the reciprocal pivotally engaging means and The closed ends of the respective comb sets of teeth.
 3. A hair comb as described in claim 1 wherein said reciprocal pivotally engaging means comprises: rounded projects extending longitudinally from the free ends of the first set of teeth between the first and last teeth of said first comb set of teeth, and projecting annular members on the respective free ends of said first and last teeth, and said first abutments of the second comb set of teeth defining holes adapted to receive said rounded projections on the congruent teeth of said first comb set; flanges integral with the first and last teeth of said second comb set of teeth and respectively adapted to receive said projecting annular members therebetween, said flanges defining holes adapted to register with the annular holes of said annular members, said holes being normal to the holes defined in said first abutments; and pivot pins adapted to engage in said flange and annular member holes for securing the first and second comb sets of teeth in operational relation.
 4. A hair comb as described in claim 1 wherein said means for locking the first and second comb sets comprise: an arm integral with and normal to said first comb set of teeth; and a catch means adapted to releasably engage said arm mounted on said second comb set of teeth.
 5. A hair comb as described in claim 2 wherein said means for varying the effective length of the combination comb teeth comprises: a bar having side flanges for slidably engaging the first and last teeth of said second comb set of teeth and guide means for engaging with and between teeth intermediate said first and last teeth; and a second abutment defined in said second comb set of teeth intermediate said first abutment and the closed ends of said teeth behind which said bar is slidable; means for holding said bar clear of said teeth mounted on the closed ends of said second comb set of teeth; and means for holding said bar in the forward position against the pull of hair.
 6. A hair comb as described in claim 5 wherein said means for holding the bar clear of said teeth comprises: magnetic inserts in the bar and in the closed ends of said second comb set of teeth whereby a slight upward flip of the hair comb magnetically holds the bar clear of the teeth when the taper of the combination teeth is greatest.
 7. A hair comb as described in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said bar in forward position comprises: inwardly extending projections positioned on the closed ends of said first set of teeth adjacent their respective ends; said bar defining notches adapted to register with said inwardly extending projects when said bar is in said forward position, said bar also defining holes adapted to receive said projections when said bar is in alignment with the closed ends of the restive comb sets of teeth thereby allowing the closing of said comb sets of teeth to minimum taper. 